How Foundations Work: What Grantseekers Need to Know About the Many Faces of Foundations

by Dennis P. McIlnay

Overview

In this groundbreaking book, Dennis McIlnay offers a unique andremarkable look inside foundations—exploring the complex workingsof the mysterious and often misunderstood organizations that sooften determine the success or failure of a nonprofit's fundraising ventures.

Drawing on his extensive research and on insights from foundations,McIlnay gives the grantseeker an edge in the highly competitiveworld of foundation grants by both debunking many of the myths andmisconseptions surrounding foundations and including moreproductive strategies for dealing with them.

Structured around six perceptions of foundations—judges, editors,citizens, activists, entrepreneurs, and partners—this bookprovides a thorough understanding of what makes foundations tickand how this affects their interations with nonprofits.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780787940119
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/16/1998
Series:	Jossey-Bass NonProfit and Public Managem
Edition description:	1 ED
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.24(w) x 9.51(h) x 0.83(d)

About the Author

DENNIS P. MCILNAY is professor of management at Saint Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania. His publications include Foundation and Higher Education: Dollars, Donors, and Scholars(1991) and articles on foundations in Nonprofit and Voluntary Section Quarterly, Foundation News and Commentary, Philanthropy Matters, and Currents. He is also a member of the editorial board of Foundation News and Commentary.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements.

The Author.

Foundations at the Crossroads.

Foundations as Judges -
The Art of Deciding Who Gets a Grant.

Foundations as Editors -
How the Quality of Writing Affects Grant Proposals.

Foundations as Citizens -
How Accessible and Accountable are Foundations?

Foundations as Acitvists -
How Political Ideology and Influence Affect Grant Decisions.

Foundations as Entrepreneurs -
How Program Officers View Risk Taking.

Foundations as Partners -
Problems in Building Trust Between Grantmakers andGrantseekers.

Conclusion -
Faces of Foundations in the Future.

Editorial Reviews

"How Foundations Work will provide much-needed dialogue in thefoundation community. Anyone who has ever raised funds fromfoundations can easily relate to Mr. McIlnay's observations. Thisbook gives an insider's perspective to foundations that we haveheard about before but rarely seen in print until today." (K. ScottSheldon, CFRE, director of development and outreach, Arizona StateUniversity College of ExtAnded Education)

"McIlnay's book is full of information. His arguments are cogentand well-supported. Common misunderstandings and unspoken truthsabout foundations are revealed in ways that nonprofit leaders willrespond to with warmth. The list of cockamamie ideas submitted asgrant proposals brought tears of laughter to my eyes and thedescription of medieval grant proposals is priceless. It is funny,well-observed and a good read." (David La Piana, principal, LaPiana Associates Management Consultants)

"After a dozen years in the field, I was pleased to read this bookwhich helps to demystify philanthropy" (Ruth Shack, president, DadeCommununity Foundation)

From the Publisher